Advocacy Update, February 2008
Lots to report, both nationally and in Kentucky!
ARTS KENTUCKY ADVOCACY DAY
Arts Kentucky held a successful Arts Advocacy Day on February 5th. Numerous organizations arrived at the Capitol, invited by the Kentucky Arts Council, to have a picture taken of their grant check with their legislators. It was a busy time during the morning. At 2:15 p.m. Arts Kentucky convened a workshop at the Fairmont Inn (Frankfort) with Jay Dick, Director of State and National Government Affairs, Americans for the Arts (Washington, DC). Jay provided not only the updated Creative Industries information, but spent much of the program introducing the Americans for the Arts’ NEWEST research: Arts and Economic Prosperity. To read more and use the “calculator” to find out the impact in your community, click here.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the appointment of Patrice Walker Powell to the newly created position of Deputy Chairman for States, Regions, and Local Arts Agencies. Ms. Powell will be responsible for planning and managing the agency's partnership agreements and other initiatives involving the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations, small grant programs such as Challenge America Fast-Track, and the NEA's AccessAbility activities. Patrice Walker Powell has been a staff member at the NEA since 1991. Early in 2002, she took on the role of acting deputy chairman providing oversight for grants and awards totaling approximately $40 million. In recent years, Ms. Powell has also directed NEA programs including Challenge America Fast-Track which funds projects in civic design, cultural tourism, guest artist, and public arts.
President Releases FY 2009 Budget 02-04-2008: President Bush sent his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly appropriations process for the nation's cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Museum Services, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs. On the heels of signing the largest Congressionally initiated funding increase for the arts in 28 years, President Bush has proposed a $16.3 million cut for FY 2009 for the NEA—from $144.7 million to $128.4 million. For the eighth consecutive year, the president's budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs. The FY 2009 budget request also calls for a rescission of $200 million in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. On a positive note, the president requested a funding boost of over $8 million for the Office of Museum Services, bringing the amount of funding available for grants to almost $40 million. Write your Members of Congress and urge them to support increased funding for the arts. You can also read Americans for the Arts President and CEO Bob Lynch's statement on the president's proposed budget
CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY CONTINUES TO RISE
Total corporate contributions in the United States and abroad amounted to $10.2 billion in 2006, up from $9.8 billion in 2005, a new report from the Conference Board finds. Corporate U.S. giving ranged from $72,200 to $916.2 million in 2006, with median U.S. contributions at $10.7 million, which is a $2 million increase from 2005. For the first time since 1999, survey participants reported an upturn in the share of U.S. contributions allocated to education—also up 7.1 percent from 2005. Click here for more information.
FEDERAL TAX OUTLOOK: TAX BILLS IMPACTING THE ARTS
Urge members of Congress to sign on as co-sponsors for the Artists Deduction Bill. We urge Members of Congress to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation, S. 548 or H.R.1524, which would allow artists to take a fair-market value deduction for works given to and retained by nonprofit institutions. The U.S. tax system accords unequal treatment to creators and collectors who donate tangible works (e.g., paintings or manuscripts) to museums, libraries, educational or other collecting institutions. A collector may take a tax deduction for the fair-market value of the work, but creators may deduct only their "basis" value—essentially the cost of materials such as paint and canvas.
INDIVIDUAL / PERFORMING / COMMUNITY BASED ART & ARTISTS
No update
In Kentucky
ARTS IN EDUCATION
Senator David Williams (R-Burkesville) has introduced Senate Bill 1, a bill that proposes that Kentucky’s student testing system (CATS) would be replaced by ationally standardized tests such as the ACT college-entrance exam, thus saving the Commonwealth approximately $10M annually. Senate Bill 1 would also eliminate testing from CATS in the areas of arts and humanities and would no longer judge schools based on student-writing portfolios. This is a serious piece of legislation that will significantly impact arts in education. We anticipate providing additional information over the next several weeks and ask for action. First, we’ll consult with our colleagues at the Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education, and others. KEEP TUNED! To read the bill: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/SB1.htm
The Courier-Journal also carried a front page article about SB 1. Click here to read it.
PERCENT FOR ART / PUBLIC ART
No update
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND CENSORSHIP NEWS
No update